New Corpus Christi mayor and council leadership asks for support and sees good times ahead for the city

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times
Nelda Martinez, the new mayor of Corpus Christi, stands among a packed crowd Tuesday before the first council meeting with the newly elected council.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

CORPUS CHRISTI - About 300 supporters poured into City Council Chambers Tuesday, more than half of them standing shoulder to shoulder as they welcomed the newly elected City Council, which Mayor Nelda Martinez referred to as the "Dream Team."

Tuesday marked the first meeting for eight council members and mayor after the Nov. 6 election.

U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack administered the oath of office to the council, which includes four new members. The hourlong ceremony preceded the regular meeting with council members sharing their thanks and thoughts with friends, family and supporters.

"It's a new day, and it's a new era in our great city of Corpus Christi," said Martinez, who is the city's first Hispanic woman to serve as mayor. "There's a momentum in our city that we haven't had in many years."

Martinez will be in charge of setting the agenda for city business. She vowed to finish writing a street maintenance plan with city staff, which was discussed by the previous council to begin reversing years of neglect and start rebuilding the city's crumbling streets.

That work will begin Dec. 18, the last meeting of the year, City Manager Ron Olson said. He previewed city business for this year's final two meetings, including a vote on a street user fee.

Up for a vote would be an approximate dollar amount for what could end up on monthly utility bills. Previous city staff estimates have the amount between $5 and $10 and solely pay for street maintenance needs. Olson wants a final streets plan in place in May, so a funding plan can be wrapped into the next budget cycle, beginning Aug. 1.

While Martinez acknowledged there will be tough decisions ahead, she said the city is headed into good times with booming business at the Port of Corpus Christi and heavily worked Eagle Ford Shale, an oil and gas formation northwest of the city. She plans to position the city so it can take care of maintenance needs and also have money set aside for emergencies and not so good times, if needed, she said.

At-large Councilman Mark Scott likened governing to riding a bike.

During previous years, it seemed the city was riding into the wind, but now the wind is with Corpus Christi and the city is poised for great economic times, he said.

"What do you do when the wind is at your back?" asked Scott, who voters elected to a third consecutive term with the most votes of the three at-large positions. . "You can coast. There's nothing wrong with that. Or you can keep that speed, smile and enjoy the moment that the wind is at your back. Or you can gear down and pedal on and ride faster."

Newly elected at-large Councilwoman Lillian Riojas, a spokeswoman for Valero, said she's ready to get to work.

"I know we have lots of challenges, but there are lots of positive things happening in this community," she said. "I believe this team is the one to push Corpus Christi forward in a positive direction."

Riojas joined newcomers District 5 representative Rudy Garza Jr., District 2 councilman Chad Magill and District 4 Councilwoman Colleen McIntyre. Olson invited the new council members to an orientation session Dec. 4 in which he would help them understand how Corpus Christi city government works and what they can expect. It also will be an opportunity for them to pitch ideas and goals. Olson also extended the invitation to returning council members, at-large Councilman David Loeb, District 3 Councilwoman Priscilla Leal, District 1 Councilman Kelley Allen, Scott and Martinez.

Earlier in the meeting, Allen joked that he appreciated the support for his hard-fought race. Allen was appointed to the seat in January and unopposed in the election. He then asked everyone in the room to keep in communication with the council as they face tough decisions.

"We are going to do our part as best we can," he said. "It takes you guys to offer your support the best you can. You want the city to move forward."